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18 Nov / 25Expert insight
Responding to NHS data on waits for mental health patients in A&E
One in 10 mental health patients waiting over 24 hours in A&E is a crisis we should never accept. The latest NHS England data* shows people reaching out at their most vulnerable, only to be left waiting. Mental health patients may be a small proportion of attendances, but they often face longer waits than patients […]
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8 Oct / 25Expert insight
Lessons from Labour Party Conference 2025: Where is mental health?
Our Head of Communications and Public Affairs Katie Leay shares her reflections from this year’s Labour Party Conference. Labour’s 2025 Conference was buzzing with ambition to transform our health system – but I came away thinking – is mental health being forgotten again? I attended alongside our Chief Executive, Philippa Mariani, and Levi Chambers-Cook – […]
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28 Jul / 25Expert insight
Why social workers are vital for mental health services
Lyn Romeo, Think Ahead Trustee and former Chief Social Worker for Adults, explains why social workers are vital for mental health services and supports our #SocialWorkMatters campaign – to ensure that everyone with severe mental illness has access to a mental health social worker. Nation’s mental health crisis At this year’s British Association of Social […]
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24 Apr / 25Expert insight
Think Ahead gives evidence to Health and Social Care Committee on community mental health services
This week, we gave evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee as part of our ongoing inquiry into community mental health services. Our External Relations Director Penny East appeared alongside Stephen Parker from Turning Point and Duncan Tree from the Association of Mental Health Providers. Importance of a social approach We train social […]
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15 Oct / 24News
Think Ahead turns 10
“It began with a spark of an idea to make the social, economic and environmental factors affecting people’s mental health the bedrock of training for careers in the sector. From that spark grew the highly regarded organisation that Think Ahead is today.” Those are the words of our Chief Executive, Philippa Mariani, about Think Ahead’s […]
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28 Aug / 24Expert insight
Mental health and work: improving support
Over the last year, we have been working to support the recruitment of employment specialists who work in dedicated services to help people with severe mental health problems to find employment. We’ve been working in partnership with not for profit Social Finance to support these services – called Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services – […]
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1 Aug / 24News
Welcoming our new trustees
Think Ahead is delighted to welcome three new trustees, appointing Aparajita ‘Aps’ Ajit, Peter Molyneux and Liam Sloan to its Board. The organisation believes that a thriving mental health workforce is key to ensuring every person can live the life they want. It was founded in 2014, to deliver an accelerated recruitment and training programme […]
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14 Jun / 24Expert insight
Strengthening drug and alcohol services
Alexia Fenwick, our Professional Development Lead, responds to the publication of the first-ever national strategic workforce plan for the drug and alcohol treatment and recovery sector. We were pleased to see the government’s new 10-year plan to strengthen the drug and alcohol workforce and improve services for the people using them. Recognition of […]
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22 Apr / 24Expert insight
Opening the conversation: substance use
We are pleased to have launched a new substance use training for qualified social workers supporting people living with mental health and substance use issues. Our first training has now been successfully been delivered with great results: 100% of participants reporting the training course has influenced their professional development. Participants finishing eight times more likely […]
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12 Apr / 24
Building a workforce fit for the future
We are proud contributors to the briefing published this week: Building a mental health workforce fit for the future. Here CEO Philippa Mariani shares her reflections on the importance of the piece. It was a privilege to be in the room with sector partners at the national workforce roundtable co-hosted by Centre for Mental Health, […]
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16 Jan / 24News
2023 Impact Report
We’re pleased to share our Impact Report evaluating our work over the last year. Our vision is simple: a thriving mental health workforce, empowered to support people to live the life they want and deserve. From our mental health social work programme, to our advocacy work across the sector, we work to ensure people living […]
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7 Mar / 23Expert insight
Time for change
New CEO Philippa Mariani shares reflections on her first 100 days and the priorities as she sees them for the future. When you’re struggling with your mental health, a lot of things can feel daunting; the people who help us navigate those challenges really matter to our wellbeing, to whether we feel listened to and […]
